ISLAMABAD:
The Senate Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs held a comprehensive debate on granting overseas Pakistanis, including those with dual citizenship, the right to vote in future elections.
The meeting was chaired by Senator Dr. Mohammad Humayun Mohmand.
Highlighting the importance of extending voting rights to overseas Pakistanis, the President said many countries successfully implement postal voting and questioned why Pakistan could not adopt a similar mechanism.
A representative of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) briefed the committee on past efforts, explaining that an independent audit had previously advised against internet voting due to significant security concerns, including the risk of hacking.
The audit concluded that online voting was not secure for the general election.
The president stressed that all Pakistanis living abroad or holding dual citizenship should have the right to vote, suggesting that postal voting could be a viable solution for Pakistan.
While ECP representatives acknowledged the practicality and cost-effectiveness of postal voting, they warned that it could be prone to malpractices due to the lack of direct supervision.
The Chairperson raised the question whether the committee would support amending the laws and the Constitution to facilitate voting systems such as postal voting and EVMs. However, Senator Kamran Murtaza expressed reservations, arguing that such measures might not be in line with constitutional provisions.
Faced with limited support for the constitutional and legal amendments, the president adjourned the session and stated: “If the committee members are not willing to consider changes to allow a transparent and modern voting system, there is no point in continuing the discussion.”
